Method and apparatus for increasing a number of operating states of a circuit device

Abstract

An input control signal within a range corresponding to static operating states of a circuit device ( 18 ) is applied to an input terminal ( 12 ). A sigma delta modulator ( 14 ) quantizes the input control signal. An output terminal ( 16 ) subsequently applies the quantized signal to the circuit device ( 18 ) for selecting a new operating state different than the static operating states by rapidly switching between operating states of the circuit device to generate a time averaged response of the circuit device that is within the range corresponding to the static operating states of the circuit device and consistent with the input control signal.

1 . A device for increasing a number of effective operating states of a circuit device comprising: 
 an input terminal for receiving an input control signal within a range corresponding to static operating states of the circuit device;    a sigma delta modulator for quantizing the input control signal to provide a quantized signal; and    an output terminal for applying the quantized signal to the circuit device for selecting a new effective operating state corresponding to the input control signal.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sigma delta modulator is further for switching between static operating states of the circuit device to generate a time averaged response of the circuit device that is within the range corresponding to the static operating states of the circuit device and consistent with the input control signal.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the sigma delta modulator is further for switching between static operating states in a specific pattern for generating the new effective operating state consistent with the input control signal.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sigma delta modulator is further for matching the input control signal to a specific pattern of the static operating states of the circuit device.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit device comprises one of an amplifier, an oscillator and a filter.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sigma delta modulator and circuit device are fabricated as a single integrated circuit.  
     
     
         7 . A filtering device with dynamic operating state capability comprising: 
 a filter circuit for filtering an input signal, the filter circuit including a plurality of transmission gates associated with respective filter parameters for choosing one of a plurality of static filtering levels; and    a sigma delta modulator in electronic communication with the plurality of transmission gates for commanding a switching operation of the plurality of transmission gates in a specific pattern,    wherein a time average of a performance of the filter circuit is a filtering level different than the plurality of static filtering levels.    
     
     
         8 . The filtering device of  claim 7 , wherein the filtering device further comprises a first high resistor and second high resistor for generating a higher frequency filtering and a first low resistor and a second low resistor for generating a lower frequency filtering.  
     
     
         9 . A method of dynamically increasing operating states of a circuit device comprising: 
 selecting an input control signal that is within a range corresponding to static operating states of the circuit device;    quantizing the input control signal for generating a quantized signal; and    applying the quantized signal to the circuit device for generating a new effective operating state of the circuit device corresponding to the input control signal.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the applying the quantized signal to the circuit device for generating the new effective operating state further comprises switching between the static operating states so that a time average of a performance of the circuit device corresponds to the new effective operating state, where the new effective operating state is different than the static operating states of the circuit device.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selecting an input control signal that is within a range corresponding to static operating states of the circuit device further comprises selecting an input control signal level that is proportional to the new operating state.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the quantizing the input control signal for generating a quantized signal further comprises: 
 amplifying the input control signal with a buffered feedback for generating an amplified output and subsequently integrating the amplified output for generating an integrated output;    amplifying the integrated output to provide an integrated output and integrating the amplified integrated output, wherein the amplifying and integrating are sequentially performed a predetermined number of times to provide a final integrated output;    generating the quantized signal based upon a value of the final integrated output.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the generating the quantized signal based upon a value of a final integrated output further comprises generating a quantized signal that corresponds to the input control signal relative to one of the static operating states of the circuit device.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the selecting an input control signal that is within a range corresponding to static operating states of the circuit device further comprises selecting an input control signal corresponding to a frequency response within static frequency responses of a filter circuit;    the quantizing the input control signal for generating a quantized signal further comprises quantizing the input control signal for generating the quantized signal that corresponds to the frequency response within the static frequency responses of the filter circuit; and    the applying the quantized signal to the circuit device for generating a new effective operating state corresponding to the input control signal further comprises applying the quantized signal to the filter circuit for generating the frequency response different than the static frequency responses of the filter circuit.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the selecting an input control signal that is within a range corresponding to static operating states of the circuit device further comprises selecting an input control signal that is within static gain levels of an amplifier;    the quantizing the input control signal for generating a quantized signal further comprises quantizing the input control signal for generating the quantized signal corresponding to a new effective gain level of the amplifier; and    the applying the quantized signal to the circuit device for generating a new effective operating state corresponding to the input control signal, further comprises applying the quantized signal to the amplifier for generating the new effective gain level of the amplifier.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the selecting an input control signal that is within a range corresponding to static operating states of the circuit device further comprises selecting an input control signal that is within static frequencies of an oscillator;    the quantizing the input control signal for generating a quantized signal further comprises quantizing the input control signal for generating the quantized signal corresponding to a new effective frequency of the oscillator; and    the applying the quantized signal to the circuit device for generating a new effective operating state corresponding to the input control signal, further comprises applying the quantized signal to the oscillator for generating the new effective frequency of the oscillator.